Phillies Notes: Phillies proceeding cautiously with Pettibone

Phillies pitcher Jonathan Pettibone. Rest did not heal the soreness in his right shoulder, so now the Phillies will inject him with cortisone. Ron Cortes / Staff photographer

By Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: February 19, 2014

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Rest did not heal the soreness in Jonathan Pettibone's right shoulder, so now the Phillies will inject him with cortisone. Pettibone will not throw for five days after the injection and the team hopes its 23-year-old starter can resume a normal program Saturday.

There could be a larger problem if the soreness persists. "I know that he was feeling better over the offseason," manager Ryne Sandberg said, "so we'll have to wait and see on that."

Pettibone is important to the Phillies, who are not blessed with a deep stockpile of starting pitching. They may need a fifth starter for April while Cole Hamels builds arm strength after biceps tendinitis. Pettibone, if healthy, could be that pitcher. He went 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA in an 18-game rookie season.

Sandberg could look to Miguel Gonzalez, the $12 million free agent import from Cuba, as an option. Ethan Martin is another possibility. Sandberg mentioned B.J. Rosenberg as another candidate.

The Phillies will use more than five starters in 2014. Pettibone is an important arm, regardless if the Phillies have April plans for him or not.

"With all of the exams they have done with him, they don't feel it warrants an MRI," GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "If he comes back and has more issues, maybe they will. Right now they don't think it is serious enough for an MRI."

Savery to A's

Lefthander Joe Savery was claimed off waivers Monday by the Oakland A's. The transaction ended the former first-round pick's disappointing tenure in Philadelphia.

Savery, the 19th overall pick in 2007, had a 4.15 ERA in 41 career games. He was mostly used in mop-up situations as a major-league reliever.

Extra bases

A.J. Burnett was the only pitcher to throw a bullpen session Monday. Carlos Ruiz caught him as Amaro and pitching coach Bob McClure watched. "Very good," McClure said. "Very good. On both sides of the plate, down in the zone, free and easy. The ball had life to it. He looked real good. ... All 58 players were in camp Monday, and the first full-squad workout is Tuesday. Sandberg will address the team in a pre-workout meeting.